Fundraiser will benefit the Senior Services of the IWV

An early tip of the hat is being paid to St. Patrick’s Day as part of a fundraiser to benefit the Senior Services of the Indian Wells Valley at the Historic USO Building on Saturday.

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

An early tip of the hat is being paid to St. Patrick’s Day as part of a fundraiser to benefit the Senior Services of the Indian Wells Valley at the Historic USO Building on Saturday.The celebration will include a traditional Irish staple, corned beef and cabbage along with a helping of potatoes and carrots. Topping it off is a free Guinness Black Lager for those over the age of 21 and a donation to the Senior Services of the IWV.The underlying goal, however, is to raise money for the Senior Services of the IWV, according to Peggy Breeden, owner of the Swap Sheet.Breeden said the services provided by the organization were increasingly important at a time when funding for programs essential to senior citizens are facing the axe.“Organization’s and people want a piece of the funding,” Breeden said. “But everyone should realize it is the seniors who paid for everything first.”She said that is why the Senior Services of the IWV was essential to the valley’s senior citizen community.“It’s our turn to pay it back to the seniors,” she said. “The Senior Services is a good organization.”The Guinness is a side perk of the fundraiser, when the brewing company provided 1,440 cases of its new Black Lager to valley organizations last year.“The only stipulation was that it had to be used for non-profits,” Breeden said. “We wanted to do something where we can use it.”The organization, which has served the valley since 1972, is dedicated to helping senior citizens live their lives with the maximum amount of independence available.However, the organization has faced cuts like everyone else in a turbulent economy, according to Senior Services of IWV Executive Director Barry Lowry.“We’re hurting for for finances like any other organization,” Lowry said Monday.Lowry said this had to include reduction in the organization’s services.“We had to close our adult daycare center because of financial reasons,” Lowry said.The daycare center was a service that looked after senior citizens for a few hours a day, particularly those who had Alzheimer’s or dementia.Lowry indicated that other services were okay for the time being.“Our biggest is our home maker program,” Lowry said. The service provides senior citizens with home care services like light house keeping, laundry, grocery shopping and meal preparation.Lowry said other services include a senior information and referral service to help seniors file for benefits or find information on transportation and other services not normally provided by the organization, a durable medical equipment loan program a caregiver support program and a minor maintenance program.“We’ll provide some minor maintenance for up to two hours,” Lowry said. This includes replacing light bulbs, stopping minor leaks, moving heavy objects and replacing heating or air conditioning filters.“The objective is to to keep seniors living at home in dignity,” he said. “We produce some small miracles.”Lowry recounted one of those small miracles happening a few years ago when the owner of a mobile home park decided to close down in order to develop batting cages and one of the people living there was a senior.“This 96-year-old-lady was beside herself on what to do,” Lowry said. Lowry said the Senior Services of IWV contacted Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance to help, and managed to turn a 30-day eviction notice int0 a 60-day notice.“During that time, we got a volunteer crew that got her trailer relocated,” Lowry said. “We basically made the process transparent.”Lowry reiterated the services the organization provided were essential for seniors.“They spent their entire lives working and serving the community,” Lowry said. “It’s time for younger generations to stand up in return.”The Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Celebration fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Historic USO Building at 230 West Ridgecrest Blvd.

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